Selco News

We're delighted to confirm we have carried out a significant expansion of our partnership with the UK’s leading tool and equipment hire specialist, HSS Hire.

An additional seven Selco stores - Cheltenham, Canning Town, Croydon, Hanworth, Bradford, Warrington and Reading – are having HSS The Hire Service Company satellite operations added to the trade counter.

That will take the total number of our stores offering a HSS hire service to supplement our core offering to 26, more than a third of our store network.

Cheltenham went live on June 16, with the remainder following at regular intervals over the following three months and all to be installed by the end of September.

Craig Bowler, Head of Central Operations at Selco, said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with HSS after hugely successful launches in the initial phases of the partnership.

“The feedback we have received from customers has been exceptionally positive and they are thriving on the fact they can purchase their materials and fulfil their hire requirements all at the same time and all under one roof.

“We want to make life as convenient and simple for professional tradespeople as we can and this is another step towards achieving that.”

Each HSS satellite desk can found at our trade counters, with HSS teams in place to offer specialist advice for the offering.

Nick Hadley, Managing Director at HSS The Hire Service Company, added: “There is a natural fit between the services offered by a builders merchant and a tool and equipment hire specialist.

“We’re pleased to be continuing our roll-out with Selco so there are now even more locations where customers can get virtually everything they need for any job in one place, whether through purchasing or hiring materials and tools.”

A Surrey foodbank has won building materials through Community Heroes to help renovate its rundown storage space.

The Walton & Hersham Foodbank, part of the Walton Charity family, urgently needs to improve its facility to continue distributing more than 5,000 food parcels in the area every year.

The charity has been boosted by winning £1,000 to spend at Selco through our award-winning Community Heroes competition.

This year we are giving away an incredible £57,500 to good causes across the country through Community Heroes, including 40 individual prizes of £1,000 to spend in store.

Janette Butler, Corporate Partnership Manager for the Walton & Hersham Foodbank, said: “Winning this support from Selco is a massive boost at the perfect time.

“We are currently relying on costly, scattered storage that limits our efficiency in meeting rising demand.

“Renovating our facilities will not only centralise our operation but also lay the groundwork for a future community pantry and hub, offering dignity, resources and hope to those facing hardship.

“The support of Selco is greatly appreciated and we look forward to visiting the Weybridge store.”

This year’s Community Heroes campaign has already seen £20,000 of building supplies donated to worthy groups across the UK.

Running until the end of September, the campaign will also see a top prize of £10,000 in cash awarded to an overall winner, £5,000 for a runner-up and £2,500 for third place.

Any group that supports the local community can enter online.

Simon Humpage, Head of Multi-Channel Marketing at Selco, said: “We all know the important role foodbanks play in today’s society, helping thousands of people who are struggling to make ends meet and to survive.

“We’re proud to support The Walton & Hersham Foodbank and its work across Elmbridge Surrey and wish them every success in the years to come.

“This is the fifth edition of Community Heroes and it has grown every year to become something everyone within the business is proud of.”

A Wokingham charity that provides supported housing and associated services to people with learning disabilities and mental health issues has been given a materials boost to help improve its properties.

EHSL has won £1,000 to spend at Selco through our award-winning Community Heroes scheme.

This year we are giving away an incredible £57,500 to good causes across the country through Community Heroes.

EHSL has properties across the south of England and plans to use the funding to improve the homes for the benefit of its tenants. These tenents require specialist support and may encounter difficulty renting accommodation from the wider housing market.

Sarah Gold, Head of Landlord Services at EHSL, said: “This prize will enable us to carry out decorating and repairs in many of our tenants’ homes, which will make a huge difference to their lives. It’s fabulous news.

“Our goal is to support people with additional needs to be able to access accommodation in the community suitable for them. We want to give our tenants independence, empowerment and give them opportunities to learn and develop socially along with the help of their care providers.

“To have the backing of Selco is fantastic. The work they are doing right across the UK is outstanding.”

The EHSL maintenance team plans to visit our Reading store on Portman Trading Estate to select their materials.

This year’s Community Heroes campaign has already seen £20,000 of building supplies donated to worthy groups across the UK.

Running until the end of September, the campaign will see 40 individual prizes of £1,000 to spend in-store dished out, followed by a top prize of £10,000 in cash, £5,000 for a runner-up and £2,500 for third place.

Any group that supports the local community can enter online.

Simon Humpage, Head of Multi-Channel Marketing at Selco, said: “One of the most exciting aspects of Community Heroes is the wide variety of good causes we are able to support, from primary schools to food banks and sports clubs to charities.

“We’re delighted to back EHSL in its efforts to offer good quality housing to a section of society which can struggle in the open market. For the people they work with, it’s life changing.

“These materials will go a long way and will help to improve multiple properties within the charity’s portfolio.”

Proposals to build a new cycle track in Greater Manchester in memory of a four-year-old boy has received our backing.

The team at Max Trax CIC is planning to build an all-wheel pump track in Delamere Park, in the heart of Openshaw, one of the most deprived areas of the region.

The project was founded by Kerrie Rimmer in memory of her son Max, who died in a tragic accident.

Max Trax CIC has already raised £336,000 and work is due to start this year – and we have now also contributed £1,000 of building materials.

Kerrie applied for funding through our Community Heroes scheme and was thrilled when Max Trax CIC was named as one of five monthly winners.

She said: “We are delighted to receive Selco’s support through the fantastic Community Heroes initiative.

“We wanted to build a lasting legacy for Max, but one that benefits the whole community. We have now signed a lease on a disused building to open it up as a hub, kiosk and toilet as part of the cycle track.

“The building is in need of renovation to transform it into a community hub in the heart of Openshaw, giving volunteer opportunities and a place to learn and develop new skills in conjunction with the repair and recycle workshop.”

Colleagues at our Ashton Moss store will help the Max Trax team select the right materials for the work.

Twenty good causes across the country have already been successful in winning building supplies through Community Heroes 2025, which is the fifth edition of the annual competition.

The campaign runs until the end of September and has a total fund of £57,500, made up of 40 individual prizes of £1,000 to spend in-store, a top prize of £10,000 in cash, £5,000 for a runner-up and £2,500 for third place.

Any group that supports the local community can enter online.

Simon Humpage, Head of Multi-Channel Marketing at Selco, said: “This is a really interesting project that will bring a fantastic new facility to Openshaw. The team have already raised a tremendous amount of money and we are pleased to be able to get involved through Community Heroes.

“We were keen to make Community Heroes 2025 bigger and better than ever before with more winners and a vastly enhanced prize pot. The feedback has been amazing.

“We still have thousands of pounds’ worth of materials to be won, so we’d urge groups of all shapes and sizes to log on and enter.”

A prominent church in the centre of Bristol has won a donation of building materials to improve its kitchen and continue its work with the city’s homeless community.

Central Church, on Tower Hill, has been named as a regional winner for the month our Community Heroes competition.

The church has received £1,000 to spend in store with us, which will help to renovate the cooking facilities used for its weekly soup kitchen.

Tim Browne, Associate Leader at Central Church, said: “We’re thrilled to be named as a Selco Community Hero. It is a recognition of the tireless work our volunteers do in the community.

“We run a vital soup kitchen on Friday nights as part of the Bristol Soup Run Trust, feeding the hungry and homeless in Bristol.

“We serve warm, nutritious meals – but our kitchen is in dire need of renovation, with worn-out surfaces, outdated equipment and limited storage. These challenges make it difficult to maintain efficiency and hygiene.

“These materials will help us prepare and serve meals more effectively, ensuring Bristol’s most vulnerable receive the support they need.”

Tim and his team will visit our Bristol Bishopsworth store on Cater Road to select their materials.

This year’s Community Heroes campaign has already seen £20,000 of building supplies donated to worthy groups across the UK.

The campaign runs until the end of September and has a total fund of £57,500, made up of 40 individual prizes of £1,000 to spend in store, a top prize of £10,000 in cash, £5,000 for a runner-up and £2,500 for third place.

Any group that supports the local community can enter online.

Simon Humpage, Head of Multi-Channel Marketing at Selco, said: “Everyone at Selco is extremely proud of the Community Heroes campaign and the tremendous difference it makes to community groups every year.

“This is the fifth year of Community Heroes – and this year’s prize fund is bigger than ever. We were all impressed by the work Central Church is doing with Bristol’s homeless community. I’m sure an upgraded kitchen will further improve the service the volunteers can offer to vulnerable people in the city.”

A charity which supports families of children with additional needs, disabilities and life-limiting conditions is providing further opportunities for its youngsters to enjoy the great outdoors – thanks to our Peterborough store.

Over the last year, Little Miracles supported around 50,000 people with inclusive activities, family support, counselling, training and respite from its 22 locations across the east of England.

Its Peterborough head office, based at The Spinney on Hartwell Way, has a garden room where children who find it more difficult to regulate their emotions or adapt to a busy environment can play.

Little Miracles staff had a vision to add an outdoor area to the garden room – and that has become possible thanks to a donation of materials from our team in Peterborough, with the work carried out by Silva Build.

Louise Evans, Head of Income Generation at Little Miracles, said: “We are thrilled and hugely grateful to Selco for the donation it made and for Silva Build for doing such a fantastic job.

“We rely virtually entirely on voluntary donations so when companies with a local presence, such as Selco, come forward with a donation to help us carry out work which is vitally important for the quality of service we can offer our children and families, it makes the world of difference.

“The garden room is a safe space for a number of the children we support so to be able to add an outdoor area to that is just fantastic.

“The children are already getting so much out of it, looking after plants and creating a mud kitchen there.

“Our setting is based in protected woodland and is a bright and colourful environment and Selco and Silva Build have worked to ensure the area is in keeping with the rest of the facility – it really is wonderful.”

Little Miracles was set up by Michelle King, who remains CEO today, in 2012 after her child Oliver was born with complex health needs and she struggled to secure support during the early years of his life.

The team is currently delivering its summer holidays programme where children are being offered a range of activities including a trip to the beach, as well as events such as animal experience days and a visit from the circus happening at The Spinney.

We were proud to donate a range of materials for the project, including fence posts and panels, post mix and gate furniture.

Pollyanna Edwards, deputy manager of Selco Peterborough which can be found on Padholme Road East, said: “Many of our colleagues and customers in the store are well aware of Little Miracles and the fantastic work it does.

“As soon as we were approached about supporting with developing an outdoor extension to the garden room, we had no hesitation in providing materials.

“The work Little Miracles does is incredible and we hope the outdoor space provides many hours of happiness for the children and the families who benefit from the charity’s work.”

Children at a Nottingham primary school have taken steps to ensure none of their fellow pupils ever feel alone by building a ‘Buddy Bench’ – with our help.

Wellbeing ambassadors at Claremont Primary School, based on Claremont Road, approached their teachers with a request to put in the new friendship facility on the playground used by children in years three to six.

Colleagues at our Nottingham store on Radford Road answered the request of the school and Councillor Shuguftah Quddoos for support by providing the materials to allow the children’s vision to become reality.

Keri Bilson, chair of the Parent Teacher Association at the school, said: “One of our core values is to collaborate as a family by working, playing and having fun with each other and this gesture by the children is extremely heart-warming.

“The idea behind it is that, on the odd occasion that a child doesn’t have anyone to play with or feels upset, they can sit on the buddy bench and help from the other children will soon be available.

“The wellbeing ambassadors are largely made up of children in years five and six and the idea of a buddy bench has entirely come from them, which is fantastic.

“The only involvement they have had from adults was to try and secure the materials and we are extremely grateful to Selco for helping the children achieve their aim. We look forward to the buddy bench being an important part of the school for many years to come.”

As part of the support, we provided a range of materials including concrete blocks, fence posts, topsoil and cement.

Adam Newbold, deputy manager of Selco Nottingham, said: “When we received the letter from the pupils at Claremont School, it really touched the hearts of all our team.

“To see children as young as eight and nine coming up with such an innovative idea and making it a reality is fantastic and we were thrilled to supply the materials for the buddy bench.

“Hopefully the bench will become the location where lots of school friendships are formed.”

An environmentally friendly project in Wokingham that teaches young people DIY skills by making bird boxes from scrap wood has received a donation of toolkits from us.

The Eco Skills Learning Centre in Arborfield has received a boost with the donation of 10 multipurpose toolkits from our Reading store on the Portman Trading Estate.

The tool bags are packed with essential trade tools to help the charity with its projects like a hammer, pliers, screwdrivers, measuring tape and more.

The centre welcomes young people to make bird boxes and bug hotels using unwanted wood donated by local residents and businesses.

Dr Bilber Bachra, of The Eco Skills Learning Centre, said the project aims to teach visitors new skills while improving the environment:

“We’re very grateful to Selco for their generous donation. All the tools will be put to use immediately as we teach young people some practical skills, including how to use a hammer and screwdriver.

“We launched in 2024, initially working in our back gardens and moved to the Eco Skills Learning Centre in February this year.

“We have so far made 755 bird boxes for blue tits and 100 bug hotels. We are working with Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust to see what other habitats we could make in the future.

“The Wildlife Trust has identified that swifts and hedgehogs are on the endangered list, so we have now expanded our range of habitats to include include boxes for hedgehogs and swifts. Looking to the future we plan to build boxes for owls and bats.

“The young people work in pairs and spend about two-and-a-half hours to make a bird box each, which they take home to put up.

“The whole cycle is very environmentally friendly and ensures the wood isn’t being burned or sent to landfill.”

The project is run by around 15 volunteers, who also deliver workshops at community events and school fetes.

The group meets on Wednesdays and is always looking for volunteers and donations of wood.

Selco Reading branch manager Tony Webb said: “We’re delighted to support The Eco Skills Learning Centre and this excellent project.

“Various surveys have shown that many young people lack basic DIY skills. Workshops like this can make a huge difference and give people confidence for the rest of their lives.

“Being part of our local community is important to us and this is another example of how we get involved with good causes.”

A dozen cyclists from Selco displayed their pedal power by completing a charity bike ride to raise more than £8,000!

Store managers from across our north London stores took on the ‘Ride the Region’ challenge.

The near 60-mile journey started at the Hanger Lane store as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations.

The group – which was backed by a support team - cycled 55 miles over two days, largely along the Grand Union Canal, to reach their final destination of our Milton Keynes store.

More than £8,000 has been raised so far from the challenge for our nominated charity, Cancer Research UK.

Ashley Watts, manager of Selco Kingsbury and who was one of the event organisers, said: “It was a warm couple of days which made it quite tough cycling along some rough terrain, but it was a great experience.

“We had a mixed ability of cyclists but everyone stuck together and we got through the two days without any punctures, injuries or any other incidents.

“To be able to join a group of colleagues, and in many cases friends, and to complete a challenge such as this was a fantastic feeling and there was a real sense of accomplishment.

“We are thrilled to have raised the amount of money we have for Cancer Research UK. It’s a charity which is very close to the hearts of a lot of people who took part and the planning is already underway for the next charity event.”

We're proud to have been supporting Cancer Research UK for the last three years and we have now raised well over £500,000, which is used to help the charity’s studies into the prevention and treatment of cancer through the work of over 4,000 doctors, nurses and scientists.

We're thrilled to have launched a new initiative offering our trade suppliers enhanced access to promote their products to a huge audience of trade professionals – with many already enjoying a significant spike in sales.

We're providing our suppliers with the platform to enjoy additional promotional and advertising opportunities through Selco Trade Media.

Opportunities are available across our store network, digital and social media platforms and via other assets such as our vehicle fleet.

More than 20 suppliers have already partnered with us, with one hand tool supplier already seeing a huge 300% surge in units sold within Selco.

David Lennon, Commercial Director of Selco, said: “We're delighted to have kicked off Selco Trade Media and see this as a huge opportunity to offer a new and unmissable feature to our loyal and valued suppliers.

“We communicate with a massive trade audience of hundreds of thousands in multiple ways every day of the week, whether that’s through customers coming through the doors of our stores or through digital platforms such as e-mail or social media.

“Our suppliers now have the unique chance to amplify their key messages to a targeted and engaged customer base through a range of opportunities, and it’s great to see a good number of suppliers already taking advantage.

“We look forward to working with many of our other valued suppliers over the weeks and months to come on this exciting project.”

Amongst the suppliers to be already promoting products through the Selco Trade Media platform are West Fraser, leading manufacturer of carbon negative engineered wood-based panel products, ToughBuilt, which supplies a range of hand tools and accessories, and leading silicone, sealants, adhesives and foams supplier Siroflex.

Any supplier interested in finding out more about the Selco Trade Media options should contact one of our product category managers.